How to write an empathic
response
(When you pretend that you are one
of the characters.)
Example question:
Imagine you are Sheila. At the end of the play
you think back over what has happened.
Write down your thoughts and feelings (for a B
or C)
Remember how Sheila would speak when you
write your answer (for an A or A*)
How to do it.
• You will be given a specific moment ‘in’ which
to write. Stick to it.
• If you just tell the story you will get an E grade,
if you’re lucky. To get a C, you have to write
down ‘your’ thoughts and feelings.
• To get an A, you also have to sound like the
character. The next slides are examples of how
the characters speak.
Mr Birling
“That filthy swine! How dare he
make such a mess of my family!
Crank. He thinks he can change
my opinion about a scum like
her. People like me cannot be
associated with people of that
class. He has insulted my social
status to the core. Damn him.
Eva Smith – that Jezebel! –
stealing my chances of securing
a knighthood! Damn the lot of
them! Cranks!”
“Me, kill her? Never! I wasn’t wrong in
what I did; it kept my family afloat.
Paying those workers 25 shillings a
week would have sank mine and
nearly to be Crofts’ business. It was
not an option; I could not consider
it. There’s a possiblity that sackin
her could have spoilt her chances,
but my actions y’know never led to
that wretched girl’s suicide. Other
obstacles came her way and set
her path adrift. I never killed her! I
am most definite in that decision.”
“As if a person of my class could
possibly be responsible for
that girl’s death. Our family is
leastl likely to be associated
with these petty women who
simply work for us. That
Inspector’s wasting his time
“My dear Mr. Birling. You’ll never
asking me questions,
guess what happened today at
the Brumley Women’s
interrogating me as if I am a
Association. Well, you shan’t
criminal. Far from it! The
guess, so I’ll tell you. I mean
father of that child should be
really, the insolence of the youth
ashamed of himself. Whilst
of today. Whilst giving up my
he’s off gallivanting around
precious time to interview these
young ladies – if you can call
God knows where, with other
them that – (more like young
young tarts, our family is
trollops if you ask me) – we came
being pulled apart.”
across this young girl; she must
Mrs Birling
have been around our Sheila’s
age, but obviously she had
nothing on Sheila. Rather dull
and plain-looking in my opinion;
quite, quite awful.”
Gerald
“What’s a chap like me
supposed to do when
he’s in love with two
entirely different
women? When I sat
down to dinner my heart
belonged to Sheila. But
now… who knows?
Maybe it still belongs to
those hard-faced dougheyed women who seem
so alluring when I’ve had
a few g and ts…
“I can’t understand why Sheila just
didn’t leave it, after all, she is just
a woman, what’s she going to do
about. Women of this society
need to learn their place. If the
Inspector hadn’t arrived and
ruined the evening, Sheila
wouldn’t have found out
something she didn’t need to
know! I was only trying to help
the poor girl. She looked young,
fresh and charming. Her eyes
were crying for help, and I used
my social standing for her
benefit…”
Eric
“Mummy! Daddy! Sheila!
Gerald! Edna! Well I never!
How could you? All of you?!
I do feel terrible bad though.
In fact, I’m rather ashamed.
All this business! Oh dear!
Daisy…she was a fine young
lass. Lively, and, well I have
to say, rather pretty! I’ve got
these awful shakes. In fact,
it’s rather hard to write this.
Don’t suppose I’ll get in ten
yards of the port any more
though. I really have been a
bad boy, haven’t I?”
“Fancy being the son of a man who’s
know you all his life yet knows
nothing about you. I feel as though
we are complete strangers. I am the
disappointment of a man who has
everything but my respect. It’s been
a dreadful evening; I can’t quite get
my head round it. All I know is that
we are not the same people now as
those who were celebrating Sheila’s
engagement. All these years my
father has been absent from my life,
to cover me up like an
embarrassment. And neither Daisy
Renton or the Inspector has
changed that. This has all been
too much! I’m off to get
a drink!”
“I did not know that my actions
could result in such
consequences! It all
happened so quickly; the
Inspector shed light into the
corners of my insecurities and
“I cannot believe we acted in
awakened the feelings that
such a thoughless childish
have been hidden so well
manner. I always knew that
from my subconscious. I’d
Eric – squiffy little thing –
taken care not to put up any
would get us into hot
walls between myself and the
water, but he’s not the only
Inspector: I knew he
one to blame! Oh! And
would inevitably
poor Gerald! I do hope that
break them down…”
some day we can patch
things up! I still love him
so! Fiddlesticks.”
Sheila
So you have to get two things right:
• The content (what the character is thinking /
feeling).
• The narrative‘voice’ (how he or she is
explaining / describing those thoughts /
feelings.)
• And whatever you do, don’t tell the story!
Sample response
Imagine you
are Sheila.
Write down
your
thoughts
and feelings
at the end of
the play.
Thoughts
•About the future
– relationship with
Gerald.
•About her role in
Eva/Daisy’s death.
•About the
Inspector – his
strange behaviour.
Feelings
•Confusion /
disappointment /
relief.
• Guilt / shame /
repentance.
•Inspired /
determined /
confused.